Feeding mechanism



July-2l, 1931. 1 w, LARSEN 1,815,263

FEEDING MEcHANIsM A Filed April 13. 1927 Patented July 21, 1931 UETED STATES PATENT OFFICE EINER WILLIAM LABSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanisms, and more particularly to improvements in mechanism for feeding or advancing ferrous metal articles.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of simple, inexpensive and efficient mechanism for successively advancing ferrous metal articles to a predetermined position from a supply thereof.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, there is provided in one embodiment thereof a mechanism for automatically feeding ferrous metal tubes to a centerless grinder wherein the tubes are advanced to the grinding and feeding wheels by a plurality of driven magnetic rollers. Means is also provided for successively delivering the tubes from a supply thereof to the magnetic rollers.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan View of a feeding mechanism embodying the features of the present invention, a portion of a centerless grinder being shown to clearly illustrate the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the structurershown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral indicates a portion of a centerless grinder of any well known construction comprising a grinding wheel 11 and aperipherally opposed feeding wheel 12 arranged so as to effect an automatic axial feed or transverse of the article being ground. Grinding machines of this general construction are well known in the art and inasmuch as the present invention is not concerned with the structural details of the grinding machine proper, further illustration and description thereof are believed to be unnecessary.

1927. Serial No. 183,331.

In accordance with the features of the present invention, improved mechanism is provided for successively advancing ferrous metal articles to be ground from a supply thereof to a position wherein they are operatively engaged by the grinding and feeding wheels. The improved feeding mechanism is supported upon a framework 15 adapted to be rigidly secured to the frame of the grinding machine, as shown in Fig. 1. rlhe framework 15 comprises a main portion 17 and a portion 18 projecting at right angles therefrom, the main portion 17 being disposed parallel to and intermediate the axes of the grinding and feeding wheels. Secured to or formed integral with the portion 17 of the supporting framework 15 is a bearing block 20 within which a plurality of shafts 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 carrying rollers 26. 27, 28, 29 and 30, respectively, are rotatably journaled, the aXes of these shafts being disposed parallel to each other and in the same horizontal plane. The intermediate roller 28 is driven from the feeding wheel 12 of the grinding machine through a flexible shaft 31 and a gear reducing mechanism 32. From this intermediate roller the other rollers are driven by means of a connecting bar 34 engaging eccentric pins 35-35 secured to enlarged ends 36-36 of each of the shafts 21 to 25, inclusive (Fig. 5

The mechanism illustrated in the drawing is particularly adapted for feeding ferrous metal tubes 38 from a supply thereof to a position wherein they are operatively engaged by the wheels of the grinding machine. Each of the rollers 26 to 30, inclusive, is provided with a peripheral groove 39 designed to accommodate a tube 38 therein, as shown in Fig. 2. The tubes 38 are advanced by Vthe grooved rollers along the upper edge of a vertical plate 40 mounted between the grinding and feeding wheels. This plate serves as a rest or support for the tubes during the grinding operation. An arcuate shaped guard 41 of non-magnetic material is provided for preventing displacement of the tubes as they are advanced by the grooved rollers to the grinding and feeding wheels.

In order to increase the traction between the metal tubes 38 and the grooved advancing rollers, the rollers are magnetized in such manner that any two adjacent ones are of opposite polarity. Due to this arrangement the space between each pair of adjacent rollers constitutes an air gap in a magnetic circuit and therefor when a ferrous metal tube lies across any adjacent pair of rollers, the magnetic circuit is completed through the tube, causing the tube to cling to the grooved rollers as it is advanced thereby. This obviously increases the traction between the tube and the rollers, thus securing a more positive feed. As soon as the forward end of a tube is engaged by the grinding and feeding wheels it is advanced by the action of these wheels independently of an preferably a little faster than the feed of the advancing rollers.

Any suitable means may be provided for successively delivering the tubes from a supply thereof to the first tube advancing rollers 2G and 27. In the present embodiment of the invention, a supply of tubes are placed at the top of a cascaded incline 44 comprising a pair of parallel bars *4land 1.6 secured to opposite sides of the portion 18 of the supporting framework. Each of these'bars has formed at its upper edge a plurality of substantially horizontal portions 47-1l7, the portions I7 at one end of the bars l5 and 46 being adjacent to and in alignment with the upper edges of the tube advancing rollers, and the remaining horizontal portions 47 gradually increasing in height toward the opposite ends of these bars. The horizontal portions 47 are interconnected by portions 48 whichrslope downwardly toward the tube advancing rollers. The construction is such that as the -tubes gravitate or roll toward Vthe ends of the bars l5 and a6 they are automatically arranged into a single layer, as clearly shown in IF ig. 2. A verticle si le wall 50 and an adjoining end wall l permit the storing of a suitable supply of tubes upon the outer end of the incline. The side wall also serves to prevent displacement of the tubes as they roll downwardly toward the discharge end of the incline.

From the lower or discharge end of the cascaded incline a4, the last tube rolls into the grooves of the rotating rollers 26 and 27 by which it is advanced onto therollers 2S, 29 and 30, which thereafter advance it to the feeding and grinding wheels. .As soon as a tube is advanced sufliciently to clear the next of the tubes are delivered to the advancing rollers. The magnetic attraction of the tubes by the advancing rollers is an important feature in the ellicient operation of the mechanism since, as hereinbefore described, it insures a positive feed of the tubes against the frictional pressure exerted by the next adjacent tube upon the tube being advanced by the rollers 26 and 27.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly adapted for feeding ferrous metal tubes to a centerless grinder, it should be understood that the novel features of the invention are capable of other applications Within the scope of the appended claims.

vWhat is claimed is:

l. In an article feeding mechanism, a pair of magnetic rollers of opposite polarity, a hopper for successively delivering articles to said rollers, and means' including a reciprocable bar for driving the rollers to advance an article delivered thereto.

2. In a mechanism for feeding ferrous metal articles to a grinding machine, a plurality of magnetic rollers arranged in the same plane, the alternate rollers being of the same polarity and opposite to the polarity of the intermediate rollers, a hopper for successively delivering articles to the rollers, means including a reciprocable bar eccentrioally connected to the rollers for driving the rollers to advance an article thus delivered to the grinding machine, and means for guiding the article as it is advanced by the rollers.

3. In an article feeding mechanism, a. plurality of magnetic rollers arranged in the same plane, the alternate rollers being of the same polarity and opposite to the polarity of the intermediate rollers so that a magnetic circuit is completed when an article is associated with any pair of adjacent rollers, and means for driving the rollers to advance an article associated therewith comprising a positive drive connected to one of the rollers and a drive bar connected to eccentric pins carried by the other rollers for driving them from the driven roller.

4. In an article feeding mechanism, a plurality of rollers for advancing an article to a predetermined position, means for driving one of the rollers, and a movable drive bar interconnecting the other rollers with the driven roller for driving them therefrom.

5. In a mechanish for feeding articles to a grinding machine, a plurality of rollers for advancing an article from a supply thereof to a predetermined position, a flexible drive connection for driving one of the rollers from the grinding machine, and means for driving the other rollers from the driven roller.

6. In an article feeding mechanism, a pair of magnetic rollers of opposite polarity for advancing an article, means for driving one of the rollers, and a drive bar inter-connecting the driven roller With the other roller for driving it therefrom.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe d my name this 30 day of March, A. D., 1927.

EINER WILLIAM LARSEN. 

